The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-08-25
THE CHICAGO DRILL.
A Grand international Aft;

A Grand International Affair.
The following article is taken from
the Chicago Evening Journal of the 18th,
and is reprinted to show what tremend-
Gus and memorably important thing
drill can be made-a theme for the talk
of nations, not city or few states
General A. l.. Chetlain, who has returned
from Europe, where he went in the inter
ests of the international encampment, to
be held here in October, was met to-day
by Journal reporter and asked for an
account of his trip and the results he had
accomplished by it. He replied:
"When l left here of course 1 knew but
little about the condition of affairs in
Europe. 1 knew great deal moro when
got through than when l commenced.
Gen. Bentley was with me as secretary of
the commission, and we were very we'll
received everywhere. After I got on the
continent 1 found that Gen. Bentley
could speak no language but the English,
and 1 had him return home, where
he could be useful to our people
in their work this summer, and l
visited all the countries on the
continent. After leaving London my first
interview-and it was an informal one,and
l considered it very great favor-was
with Ferran, the minister of war, who
succeeded General Boulanger, and who had
been in Office but a few weeks. We met
as old soldiers, and had a very free and
pleasant conversation about this whole
matter. He became quite enthusiastic,
and we talked over many things connected
with this matter of sending troops, which
are in part still undetermined. 1 sug-
gested to him, and he fell in with the sug-
gestion with good deal of enthusiasm,
which was to take some thirty or forty
cadets of their military school at st. Cyr,
which school is to France what West
Point is to the United States-the cadets
in the graduating year, and before they
are assigned to the various arms of the
army and send them here to meet an
equal number of our cadets from West
Point, and to fraternize with them here
during the time of the encampment; but
it was afterward ascertained that the
graduating class had all been assigned
to sub-lieutenantcies before we had this
conversation, or about that time, and
it would be impossible to send such de-
tatchment. 1 left the matter with him to
arrange something for our international
encampment. l then visited Belgium,
Holland, Prussia, Denmark, Sweden, Rus
STA, Austria and Switzerland. My time
being limited, 1 was unable to wait until
the formal invitation extended by this
country, asking for detatchments of troops
and coming through the American minis
ter and the channels of the minister of
war, could be presented. 1 had informal
interviews with every minister of war or
minister of the interior IN every country 1
visited. The proposition was we'll received
everywhere, and there was general dis
position to favor us. l am unable now to
state what the result will be, but unless
something unforeseen occurs we shall have
detatchments from several of those coun-
tries of their choice troops from that por-
ton of their army not connected
with their regular service. In al
most all these countries they
have an organization that is sim
liar to our national guards, and not
directly connected with the regular army.
They are body of men we'll drilled and
disciplined, and of better class than is
usually found in the regular army. In
countries where it was deemed inexpedient
w SOuu IIOOPC5 uhCJ WILL COh DllLhOuO D
by sending general officer and staff. Of
course 1 can not yet say just what we will
get, but the management feel confident
that we shall have a number of very fine
detachments of, troops from Europe to
meet with us in October. 1 found every
where the greatest admiration for the
United States. The fact is, the United
States everywhere in Europe is looked
upon as a wonderful country, and every
official 1 met expressed themselves as
friendly to the country and admirers of it.
"My trip was in every way pleasant ex-
cept that 1 was very hurried, and 1 at
tempted to do in Europe in forty days
what ought to have had four months to
do"
"Did you make any application to the
English government for troops?"
eyes, and we found in London a regi-
ment of young ScotchmeD, the London
Scottish rifles, one of the finest bodies of
military in England. They belong to
what is called in England the volunteer
service. 1t IS regiment that is admira-
bly, drilled and disciplined, and quite
number of them were willing to come
with their officers. The colonel command
ing expressed his willingness to come
with them, but when the matter was
formally brought to the attention of
General Wolseley, acknowledgement to
the Duke of Cambridge, the commander
in. chief of the English army, he said
that he did not believe that the
English government could with good
grace send us armed troops when they
had recently refused company of armed
men from the United States permission
to pass through England on their way
to the continent. The whole matter is
still open, and we may yet succeed in get
ting good detachment from the regi-
ment.
son my return home 1 found that
everything connected with our encamp-
ment was in fine condition, but that there
seems to be great deal of enthusiasm
with the military of the country, and we
expect very large numbers of troops here.
"The encampment is to be held at and
near the West Side driving park, Just
south of Garfield park"